Senior Ryan Salter showed her love for Lambert at the jampacked rally. Lambert performed two songs and addressed the crowd. "It's cool to be different," he said. (Charlie Neuman / Union-Tribune)

Senior Ryan Salter showed her love for Lambert at the jampacked rally. Lambert performed two songs and addressed the crowd. "It's cool to be different," he said. (Charlie Neuman / Union-Tribune)

Stretch limousines. Big bodyguards. Autograph-writer's cramp. A stadium full of adoring high school students who don't care that you weren't a big man on their campus.

Adam Lambert, this is your new life.

The local “American Idol” finalist returned to San Diego yesterday for a whirlwind homecoming tour that will air on Tuesday's “Idol,” along with visits by fellow Top 3 contestants Danny Gokey to Milwaukee and Kris Allen to Conway, Ark. The finale airs May 20.

Lambert's day began with a morning of radio and TV appearances and came to a noisy crescendo with a super-size bash at his alma mater, Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Peñasquitos. He was scheduled to meet with military families at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station later in the day.

From the police escort and the city proclamation declaring May 8 “Adam Lambert Day,” to the avalanche of hometown love that greeted him at Mt. Carmel High, Lambert was having a day fit for a star. But when he got his moment in the sun, the 27-year-old singer turned the spotlight on his audience.

“Not to get cheesy or get on a soap box or anything, but this is an example of believing in yourself and knowing who you are,” Lambert said to the hundreds of students and fans gathered at Sundevil Stadium, where he was greeted by the marching band, the cheerleading squad, two furry mascots and Mayor Jerry Sanders. “Anyone who feels different or weird . . . embrace it. Embrace each other's differences. It's cool to be different.”

When he was performing in Mt. Carmel's theater productions and in the school's choir, being different didn't always work for Lambert, who told Fox 5's Chrissy Russo that he was “one of the weird kids” in high school.

But it's working for him now.

“He's a role model for kids who feel like they don't fit in,” said Ali Ludwig, 17, a Torrey Pines High School student who went to the Fox 5 studios with her mother and left with pictures of herself with Lambert. “I'm in a play right now (Lee Blessing's 'Fortinbras'), and everybody loves Adam.”

With his wild, octave-scaling vocals and flashy, theatrical performing style, Lambert, who moved to Los Angeles after he graduated in 2000, has been a front-runner and a judges' favorite since the season began in January. And blog and media speculation about his sexuality have made him one of the most talked-about contestants on “American Idol,” which is still the most popular show on television after eight seasons.

After a surprising drop in votes put Lambert in the show's bottom two April 30, this week saw “Idol” generating a record-setting 64 million votes, some of which helped Lambert land a coveted spot in the “Idol” Top 3. Yesterday he appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine, where the headline declared him “The Most Exciting 'American Idol' Contestant in Years,” adding, “And Not Just Because He Might Be Gay.”

That Lambert is exciting doesn't come as news to his fans. And his sexual orientation doesn't seem to matter. Because whether they were gathering in the early-morning fog at the Fox 5 and Clear Channel radio studios or baking in the late-morning sun at Mt. Carmel High, the self-proclaimed “Glamberts” look at the former theater geek and see a singer who can turn a Top 40 tune into a one-man showstopper.

“I have watched every single episode since the show began, and Adam is the best contestant they have ever had,” said Ali Ludwig's mother, Glenda, who splits her time between Palm Springs and Carmel Valley. “He brings magic to every single performance. He's just stunning. And all the time, he stays so humble. He's a real sweetheart.”

Lambert's all-black ensemble and flashy python cowboy boots screamed “rock star,” but judging by the unwavering smile and stream of gracious small talk that he kept up throughout his long day, the second part of Lambert's “be yourself” credo is, “And be nice to everyone else.”

Whether he was goofing around with the “Fox 5 Morning News” crew, dishing with the Star 94.1 and Channel 93.3 morning-show teams or treating fans to photo opportunities and autographs, Lambert was approachable and professional – and, apparently, quite huggable.

“He hugged us! And he signed all of our phones!” said Alicia Vidals, 12, who went to an Adam event at an AT&T store before snagging a seat in the Sundevil Stadium bleachers.

If fame hasn't given Lambert a big head, it has given him a big platform. When it came time to perform for the crowd, Lambert chose to reprise two of his “Idol” performances. Backed by a scratchy recording, Lambert sang Michael Jackson's “Black or White” and Tears for Fears' “Mad World,” two songs about how tough it is to be yourself, and how important it is to do it anyway.

When the convertible Ford Mustang revved up to carry Lambert and his parents, Leila and Eber, out of the stadium, Lambert leaned out of the shiny car for one last pitch and one final grace note.

“It's all about the arts. It's all about the band and the choir and the theater,” Lambert said. “Bye, guys! And thank you!”